High Creatinine Levels – Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment

What if your body loses its ability to eliminate toxic substances? Well, it is a possibility, given how careless we can be with our diet and health. The kidneys help in removing toxins from the body through urine. But what happens when your diet and other factors cause the kidneys to lose their function? It leads to high creatinine levels in your blood, which can cause serious damage to your health. Are your creatinine levels unusually high? Here are some remedies to help lower or prevent it.

What Is Creatinine?

Creatine is a chemical waste that is created by the metabolic activities of your muscles. The main source of creatinine is creatine, which is a significant molecule that helps in producing energy for the muscles.

About 2% of your body’s creatine is converted to creatinine daily and transported to the kidneys via the bloodstream. And your kidneys filter out most of the creatinine and eliminate it from your body via urine.

Remember, a low urine creatinine level may be an indication of high blood creatinine, but is not of much concern in most cases.

Given below is a creatinine level chart that reveals the normal and abnormal ranges of creatinine according to one’s age, gender, muscle mass, etc.

Creatinine Levels Chart

The creatinine levels in your body are usually dependent on the muscle mass, gender, age, and other health factors. They are often measured in milligrams per deciliter.

Category

Creatinine Levels

Adult Males

0.6 to 1.2 mg/dl

Adult Females

0.5 to 1.1 mg/dl

Infants

0.2 mg/dl

Individuals with only one kidney

1.8 to 1.9 mg/dl

Older people have lower creatinine levels than normal adults, and bodybuilders may have higher creatinine levels than most adults. This is because older individuals have diminished muscles while bodybuilders have more muscles as compared to most normal individuals. Also, individuals suffering from any muscle related disorder(s) may have a significantly lower creatinine levels than meant for their age and gender.

What Causes High Creatinine?

If the functioning of your kidneys is interrupted or impaired by any condition, it can cause your creatinine levels to go high. Some of the most common causes of chronic kidney diseases or elevated creatinine levels in adults include:

Diabetes

High blood pressure

Urinary tract infections

Kidney infections

Abnormal muscle breakdown resulting from rhabdomyolysis

Drugs like cimetidine

Consuming large amounts of dietary meat

Let us now look at the disturbing symptoms that may arise due to high blood creatinine levels.

What Are The Symptoms Of High Creatinine?

The symptoms of high blood creatinine levels and kidney dysfunction often vary widely and may not be correlated to each other. Some individuals may have severe kidney disease and high creatinine levels without displaying any symptoms while others usually develop symptoms like

Swelling or edema

Shortness of breath

Dehydration

Fatigue

Nausea and vomiting

Confusion

It is very important to get your kidneys diagnosed periodically if you have high creatinine levels. Some diagnosis methods that can be used to screen your kidneys for any abnormalities are discussed below.

Diagnosis

If your blood test reveals that you have high creatinine levels, you can undergo the following tests:

Blood Urea Nitrogen Test (BUN) – This test checks the functioning of your kidneys by measuring the amount of urea nitrogen in your blood. Too much or too little of urea nitrogen often hints at kidney problems.

Basic Metabolic Panel Test (BMP) – This is a combination of tests that assess the important body functions.

These are some common tests to diagnose high blood creatinine levels. Listed below are some of the best remedies that can help reduce your creatinine levels and improve the functioning of your kidneys naturally and effectively.

5. Green Tea

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

Take a green tea bag and steep it in a cup of hot water for about 10 minutes.

Allow it to cool for a while and then add some honey.

Consume the tea.

How Often You Should Do This

You must drink green tea 2 to 3 times daily.

Why This Works

Green tea is a natural antioxidant and has diuretic properties (6). This makes it one of the best and easiest ways to lower high creatinine levels. The diuretic nature of green tea helps in improving the filtration ability of your kidneys and increases your urine output (7).

6. Garlic

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

Chew on the garlic cloves.

Alternatively, you can add minced garlic to your salads and other foods.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this 1 to 2 times daily.

Why This Works

Garlic is another wonderful herb that can help in lowering high blood creatinine levels. It is a natural antioxidant and also acts as a diuretic, which helps in getting rid of toxic waste from your body, and, in turn, lowers the blood creatinine levels (8), (9). Garlic also increases the levels of plasma iron, which increases the hemoglobin lost as a result of high creatinine levels in your body (10).

7. Ginger

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

Add an inch of ginger to a cup of hot water and allow it to steep for at least 10 minutes.

Add a little honey and consume immediately.

How Often You Should Do This

You must drink ginger tea thrice daily for optimum benefits.

Why This Works

Ginger contains compounds like flavonoids and ethanol that exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help protect your kidneys from damage and injury and lower the high creatinine levels in your body (11), (12). Additionally, ginger is also a diuretic and improves the filtration ability of your kidneys.

8. Cranberry Juice

Shutterstock

You Will Need

1 cup of cranberry juice

What You Have To Do

Drink a medium cup of cranberry juice daily.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once daily.

Why This Works

Cranberries are a rich source of antioxidants and have diuretic properties that can help improve the health of your kidneys naturally. They also contain a compound called quinic acid that protects your kidneys from stone formation (13), (14). These properties of cranberry juice can also help in lowering the creatinine levels in your body (15).

9. Coconut Water

Shutterstock

You Will Need

1 glass of tender coconut water

What You Have To Do

Have a glass of tender coconut water.

How Often You Should Do This

You must drink this daily.

Why This Works

Tender coconut water is a rich source of various antioxidants like vitamin C, which can lower your creatinine levels and keep your kidneys healthy and stone-free (16). Coconut water also acts as a diuretic and increases the urine output and improves the filtration ability of your kidneys (17).

Caution

Avoid consuming too much of coconut water as it might affect your kidneys.

10. Oranges

Shutterstock

You Will Need

1/4-1/2 glass of orange juice

What You Have To Do

Drink orange juice.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once daily.

Why This Works

Oranges are a rich source of vitamin C, which has antioxidant properties that can improve the health of the kidneys. It increases the citrate levels in the urine and prevents the formation of kidney stones (18). This, in turn, can prevent your blood creatinine levels from shooting up.

Caution

Do not consume too much orange juice as it can increase the potassium content in your body, and this can be harmful to your kidneys.

11. Olive Oil

Shutterstock

You Will Need

1 tablespoon of olive oil

What You Have To Do

Add a tablespoon of olive oil to salad or pasta.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once daily.

Why This Works

Olive oil exhibits antiurolithic activities that can help prevent the formation of kidney stones (19). It also has antioxidant properties that help maintain the health and functioning of your kidneys and lower the high creatinine levels in your blood (20).

Caution

12. Apples

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

You can also drink fresh apple juice, but make sure that you remove its toxic seeds.

How Often You Should Do This

You must consume an apple once daily.

Why This Works

Apples are a rich source of fiber and contain an antioxidant called quercetin, which is beneficial for your overall health and immunity (21). This antioxidant potential of apples makes them a good remedy for kidney diseases and high creatinine levels. Apples are also known prevent high blood pressure, which is one of the complications associated with high creatinine levels (22).

13. Baking Soda

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

Add half a teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of warm water and mix well.

Consume this.

How Often You Should Do This

You must drink this solution once daily.

Why This Works

The basic nature of baking soda helps in improving the function of your kidneys and decreasing the creatinine levels in your blood (23). Baking soda helps restore the pH of your body, which may be lost due to dysfunctioning kidneys (24).

Caution

Baking soda also contains sodium and must be taken in moderate amounts only. This is because a low-sodium diet is preferred for those having high blood creatinine.

14. Lemon Essential Oil

You Will Need

What You Have To Do

Add two drops of lemon essential oil to a glass of water.

Mix well and consume it.

How Often You Should Do This

Consume this mixture twice daily.

Why This Works

Lemon essential oil aids the detoxification and protection of the kidneys due to its high antioxidant potential (25). It also reduces your risk of developing kidney stones and prevents the blood creatinine levels from shooting up.

16. Guava

Shutterstock

You Will Need

1 bowl of cut guavas

What You Have To Do

Have a bowl of cut guavas.

How Often You Should Do This

You must eat guavas once daily.

Why This Works

Guavas exhibit kidney-protective properties and can hence be used to lower the blood creatinine levels and control the blood sugar level in your body. This is because guavas contain phenolic acids and flavonoids that exhibit antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, which can protect your kidneys from further damage (28). Guavas also reduce the risk of high blood pressure, which is another symptom of high creatinine levels (29).

Caution

Avoid consuming guavas in excess as they have high potassium content, which may have a negative impact on your kidney health when consumed in excess.

17. Onions

Shutterstock

You Will Need

1/2 onion

What You Have To Do

Add half an onion to your salads or daily diet.

How Often You Should Do This

You must do this daily.

Why This Works

Onions are natural antioxidants that can help in improving the functioning of your kidneys (30). They also contain PGA prostaglandin, which can help in lowering your high blood pressure. Onions also act as a mild diuretic and contain some amounts of vitamin C, which can be helpful in lowering the high creatinine blood levels and restoring kidney function (31).

18. Papaya

You Will Need

1 bowl of cut papayas

What You Have To Do

Have freshly cut papayas or blend them with a little water and consume the juice.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this once daily.

Why This Works

Papaya is a rich source of vitamin C, which makes it an exceptional antioxidant. Its antioxidant properties can help improve the functioning of your kidneys, and this can consequently reduce the high creatinine levels.

Caution

Since papayas are a rich source of potassium, consume them in moderation if the potassium levels in your blood are already high.

What You Have To Do

How Often You Should Do This

Have 2 cups of parsley tea daily.

Why This Works

Parsley leaves are a rich source of vitamins C and K, which impart antioxidant benefits to them. This helps in the purification of blood and also improves the functioning of the kidneys. Parsley tea also acts as a natural diuretic and can help improve the filtration ability of your kidneys and lower the high creatinine levels in your blood (32), (33).

20. Vitamins

Vitamin C is one of the most significant vitamins that can help in lowering high creatinine levels. This is mainly due to its antioxidant properties, which help in detoxification of the kidneys (34).

If your creatinine levels are high due to diabetes, you may want to consider increasing your intake of vitamin B7 (biotin) to control your blood sugar levels (35).

Individuals suffering from kidney disease have low levels of vitamin D and might want to consider its supplementation as well.

You can either increase your intake of these vitamins by following a diet rich in citrus fruits, green peppers, cauliflowers, cereals, corn, cheese, egg yolk, wheat bran, etc. Or you can take additional supplements for these vitamins, but only after consulting your doctor.

You can also follow the tips mentioned below to prevent high creatinine levels.

If left unattended, high creatinine levels can pose a threat to your overall health. Hence, it is important to have tests done periodically to nip the problem in the bud. Although all the remedies mentioned in this article are quite helpful in reducing high blood creatinine levels, it is better to consult your doctor before trying out any of them. Stay safe and wish you a speedy and healthy recovery!

Expert’s Answers For Readers’ Questions

What does it mean if I have hypothyroidism and high creatinine levels?

Hypothyroidism causes your blood creatinine levels to hike, presumably due to a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). However, these changes develop rapidly and are reversible in most cases.

How do I increase hemoglobin in case of high creatinine (female)?

In some cases, a high creatinine level can cause a decrease in hemoglobin.This is mainly due to decreased production of erythropoietin within the kidneys. You can increase your intake of vitamins B6, B12, B9, and C to increase your hemoglobin levels. You can also increase your intake of iron via diet or supplementation and take additional chitosan supplements for improving the hemoglobin production in your body.